Relatives

Family life

Females bury clutches of approximately 100 eggs on tropical or subtropical beaches. Once the eggs are buried, the females return to the sea. The eggs hatch after several months, and the hatchlings race for the sea before they can be eaten by crabs or seagulls. It can take more than 20 years for sea turtles to reach breeding age.

Conservation status

Endangered. They are threatened by accidental bycatch in fishing gear, habitat loss, water pollution, and the collection of turtles and their eggs for human consumption.

Sea turtles and climate change

Rising temperatures, rising sea levels, and other trends are having an effect on the world’s sea turtles.

Visit me at the Aquarium

Myrtle, our green sea turtle, lives in the Giant Ocean Tank. She has lived at the Aquarium since June 1970. She is approximately 80 years old, weighs more than 500 pounds, and eats lettuce, cabbage, squids, and brussels sprouts.